Race Weekend Central

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Hellmann’s 500

2016 Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Talladega

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? During most race broadcasts, you don’t hear much about about half the field, and during the Chase? Forget it.  Unless a driver is in the Chase or spoiling the Chase for a driver in the playoffs, you’ll be hard pressed to see hide or hair of them. That was …

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Friday Faceoff: On the Right Track for 2017?

2016 Talladega I Cup Pack Racing Mathew T Thacker Nkp

(Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/NKP)

NASCAR released it 2017 Sprint Cup rules package late last week.  What are your initial thoughts on the changes, which include a smaller spoiler and different rear-end rules as well as safety and testing policies? Mark Howell, Senior Writer: The 2017 Cup rules will only make what’s going well get even better. The biometric data …

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The Fronstretch 5: Final Races and What to Expect

2016 Kansas Ii Cup Matt Kenseth Kyle Busch Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

1. Talladega If there’s anything to expect about Talladega it’s that you shouldn’t expect anything. The nature of restrictor-plate racing, especially at the Alabama track, makes it pretty much one giant crapshoot. While some drivers certainly have more skill than others at the track, one mistake by somebody else can erase it all in an …

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The Underdog House: Smaller NASCAR Teams Could Use Factory Support

2016 Kansas Ii Cup Pack Racing Russell Labounty Nkp

(Photo: Russell LaBounty/NKP)

Think Small It’s a given that NASCAR’s small teams don’t have the money and equipment that the bigger ones do. But a closer look reveals there is another piece of the puzzle missing many people don’t think about: factory support. While several of the smaller teams do have alliances with larger ones, manufacturer funding is generally reserved …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Hollywood Casino 400

2016 Kansas Speedway Nscs Kevin Harvick Checkered Flag Photo Credit Nascar Via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? Intermediate tracks like Kansas are rarely kind to lesser-funded single-car teams, but this week, one of those teams broke up the party at the front for much of the weekend, including late in the race. AJ Allmendinger had a fast car, as evidenced by his 10th-place start, and …

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2016 Frontstretch Cup: Staff Predictions for the Hollywood Casino 400

2016 Kansas I Cup Pack Racing Brett Moist Nkp

(Photo: Brett Moist / NKP)

Welcome to our ninth year of staff predictions! Each week, our experts attempt to tell you who the winner of each Cup race will be. Take a look to see who your favorite writers think will win it all (or at least score some points) this week! Think you can out-prognosticate our staff?  Leave your …

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Friday Faceoff: Does NASCAR Need a Shakeup at the Top?

2016 Kentucky Cup Ty Dillon Helmet Logan Whitton Nkp

(Photo: Logan Whitton/NKP)

Austin Wayne Self is the second driver to feature Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on his truck. Should NASCAR make a rule about drivers using sponsorless entries to support a political campaign? If so, would it violate freedom of speech? Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: It isn’t a First Amendment violation.  NASCAR isn’t a government entity, …

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The Frontstretch 5: Questions You Should Be Asking After Charlotte

Joey Logano Ryan Sieg Xfinity Charlotte 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

1. Is there a new player in the game? If Hendrick Motorsports has truly turned things around, this turning point couldn’t come at a better time for the organization … or a worse time for the rest of the field. HMS has found some impressive speed over the last few weeks and was dominant at …

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The Underdog House: NASCAR Success Doesn’t Happen Overnight

Cole Whitt Reed Sorenson Charlotte Cup 2016 Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

Think Small Smaller NASCAR teams are constantly talking about improvement, and it’s something for which there is always room.  However, improvement goals vary, and that is necessary because teams in the group are all at different stages of development as teams. One team’s goal of top-20 finishes may be totally unrealistic for another. There is …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2016 Bank of America 500

2016 Nascar Charlotte

(Photo: Russell LaBounty / NKP)

Who… gets my shoutout of the race? There was a time when losing a lap for an unscheduled pit stop and a pit road penalty would have meant a meltdown from Kyle Busch.  But that time is past, and those problems, along with a piece of an 11-car pileup and subsequent repairs, didn’t rattle Busch, who …

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Bank of America 500 Postponed for Weather

2016 Charlotte All Star Showdown Cup Green Flag Nigel Kinrade Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP)

The Bank of America 500, scheduled for Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway, has been rescheduled at noon Sunday due to persistent rain from Hurricane Matthew. The NASCAR XFINITY Series Drive for the Cure 300, which had been rescheduled from Friday night to Sunday morning, will now be run after the Bank of America 500 on …

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